because big government is not the answer

Update

OK. So we found a new joint to live in on Saturday. This was necessary because on a standard contract over here, the employer provides rent-free accommodation. This is essentially necessary for anyone jumping on a plane who wants to try their hand at this business; you gotta have a place to live when you get out of the airport, right? And you probably don’t want to pay 5K, 10K, 20K, 100K, or even more, up front before you’ve done a day’s work for the privilege (different system over here).

Now that I’m my own boss, obviously no-one’s gonna put up a free home. A “free” home typically naturally leads to being provided a one-room box – not entirely uncommon nor “shocking”, nor necessarily unfair in such a small mountainous land with so many people (but it’s not rocket science, right, to have worked out that being given shit means being given shit). Anyway, the new place we found is something resembling what a typical Australian would require to be able to live.

On that note alone, I’m glad I got out of “here”.

So, everything is packed up and ready to be moved out today. Actually, I can’t wait! We needed this change, the new apartment is in a different, much fresher, newer, and up-and-coming neighbourhood, it’s far move liveable, and we’ve been able to “trim up”. There’s nothing like moving to force one’s hand to sort out everything, clean up, and chuck out the trash.

It will make moving to LBB’s hometown (city) next year that much easier.

One symptom, however, is that part of the move will entail being without the Internet and satellite TV for a few days. Thus, I won’t really be in a position to blog much. I’ll chuck up an open thread after this post to keep discussion open and provide a platform for the latest to be aired. We have smartfones so checking up will still be possible, but I hope everyone can understand, actual posting would be cumbersome.

All is well, it’s being done – and done better. It’s been stressful and emotional, yet also necessary, and progress is being made.

Ha! If only Julia Gillard would flip out and just quit… but not in the sense of moving onwards and upwards!

It sounds good. How are the cats? Ditto all important documents. If you & LBB are intact too, then you might as well defer a meltdown indefinitely.

As for missing TV/internet- the bad news is sabotage to Cadel & others by placing tacks on mtn road (so unbelievably dangerous); the good news is Wiggins insisted on waiting for the stranded riders (& the other good news is that even tho Wiggins is riding for Brit’n, he was born in Oz with an Oz dad). So positions are unchanged in the Tour so far- if not for Wiggins, Cadel & others would be out of it. So if Wiggins wins, then that’s ok!